Today's 5 Hottest Diet Plans

Once again, the DASH Diet's come out on top! U.S. News and World Report released its report of the healthiest diets on the market, and the DASH Diet was named as the most popular diet today. TLC came in second, and the Mediterranean Diet finished third. While Weight Watchers came in first for commercial diets marketed to the general public and sixth in overall diets, the DASH Diet reigns supreme when it comes to popularity, partly because of its heart-healthy foundation. The DASH diet was developed to help those with high-blood pressure, and is heavy on fruits and vegetables, and light on saturated fats, salt and sugar.

Which other diets got the nutritional nod of approval from U.S. News and World Report? Besides the DASH diet, here are the most popular diet plans today:

TLC. The TLC Diet aims to lower your LDL or "bad" cholesterol, so it focuses on cutting back on fat, especially saturated fat. It's not as calorie-conscious as some diets, since the focus is on lowering cholesterol, not losing weight, but it does allow for calorie-control.

The Mediterranean Diet. Unlike some of the other plans on this list, the Mediterranean Diet is less of a diet and more of a healthy eating lifestyle. It's generally acknowledged that people who live near the Mediterranean Sea live longer than those who don't, and the Mediterranean Diet places a high emphasis on fruits, vegetables, nuts, and healthy fats, such as olive oil, and of course, being active.

Mayo Clinic Diet. The Mayo Clinic Diet focuses specifically on weight loss, with the goal of helping you to lose six pounds in the first two weeks, and losing one to two pounds every week thereafter until you reach your goal weight. The theory is that by using the Mayo Clinic Diet's food pyramid, you can break some bad habits, and replace them with healthier, more sustainable long-term habits that will allow you to keep the weight off after you lose it.

Volumetrics. This is another one geared specifically toward weight loss. The Volumetrics Diet was developed by a Penn State University nutrition professor, and while nothing is off-limits, it focuses on low-density foods such as fruits and vegetables, to fill you up.